Mission Statement: NAPO-LA is an
organization dedicated to bringing Southern California area organizers
together through networking, education,
professional growth, industry updates, support and public awareness.

The
Los Angeles Organizer
Newsletter Staff

Submission
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reserved. Submit text in Microsoft Word attachment or type directly
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NAPO
National Membership

*Provisional member dues are $180 plus a one-time $20
processing fee. You are an active member* if you have completed
your provisional membership year, or are a new NAPO member with more
than one year of professional organizing experiece.
NAPO National dues can be paid online. Proof of paid dues is required
at time of joining NAPO-LA. NAPO National submits its renewal notices
directly to members on their anniversary dates. NAPO-LA annual
membership dues are renewed each September. You can also join NAPO-LA
online.

NAPO-LA
Chapter Membership

Regular Members$100 - Level 1- Yearly dues and Website Listing in
the "Find an Organizer" section of our website.$165 - Level 2 - Yearly dues, all meeting fees (with
discount) and Website Listing in the "Find an Organizer" section of our
website. (This Membership option is only available from October 1
through December 31.)$80 - Level 3 - Same as Level 1, but for members
who live 50 miles from the West Side or from ZIP Code 90064.$25 - One-Time New Member Processing Fee $25
- Lapsed Member Processing Fee

Associate Members
Dues are prorated quarterly and are reduced by 25% each quarter.$150 - Branch Associate Member - operates as a
local branch or regional office of a Corporate Associate Member$250 - Local Associate Member - a
locally-based, self-operating retailer, supplier, designer, or
independent sales representative engaged primarily in the manufacture,
distribution, and/or sales of organizational equipment, supplies, or
organizing-industry related services.NOTE: All members are required to sign a Code of
Ethics as part of their membership.

Membership Report

March Chapter Meeting
50 Members
3 Visitors
53 Total Attendance

April Chapter Meeting
55 Members
10 Visitors
65 Total Attendance

Mini
Board Minutes

March
2008

Los Angeles Organizing Expo scheduled for September 22.

NAPO National has removed Director of
Finance position from Board of Directors.

Storing Board information electronically was disucssed.April 2008

Los Angeles Organizing Awards Media Press
Kit expenditure approved.

Membership Survey results to be posted on website.

Visitor Ribbons to be purchased for chapter meetings.

Assistant
List

The Assistant
List is available as a
resource connecting those available to work as assistants to the
organizers who need them.
To be included on the Assistant List, simply
log on to the NAPO-LA website under the Members Only

Jennifer Birner
310-619-0536
jennifer@pursuitoforder.com

Chantale Bordanaro
310-600-2601
chantale@simplicitysource.com

Joan Chodorow
310-396-6997
yasmine@usinter.net

Christopher Brodwell
323-327-2707
2bdesigninc@sbcglobal.net

Wendy Cross
818-259-7437
wendylmc@aol.com

Susan Culligan
661-713-3723
susan@got2getorg.com

Robin Davi
805-657-0908
robin@simplyarranged.net

Karen DeLuca Walton
818-808-9146
kdw@clearlyfunctional.com

Cindy Duffy
310-503-9502
cindy@theperfectspot.biz

Dara Fiss
818-438-6886
dara@daramichelle.com

Michelle Monet Farrar
310-486-3962
monetfarrar@gmail.com

Christie Gelsomino
661-993-8291
scrapbkdesigner@aol.com

Star Hansen
818-512-7827
makespace@simplifiedspaces.org

Millie Hinkle
909-297-8243
millie@organizedestate.com

Carol Hogg
818-631-6362
clhoggie7@adelphia.net

Brenda Jacobs
310-592-7271
bb2sue@mail.com

Cindy Kamm
310-836-6471
cindy@details-etc.com

Abbey Claire Keusch
323-461-9555
abbeyclaire@sbcglobal.net

Rosalind Lakomy
310-625-4154
roskiwi@gmail.com

Linda Levine-Quackenbush
818-522-0784
linda@organize4life.net

Nadine Levy
818-585-4828
nadine@management180.com

Katherine Macey
310-806-2580
katherine@organizetoexcel.com

Justine Miceli
310-980-7891
micelico@earthlink.net

Robyn Reynolds
818-232-7335
310-625-6522
robynstacee@yahoo.com

Randy Sandiforth
626-403-9052
rsandi4th@aol.com

Donna Rosman
310-910-3268
donnarosman@aol.com

Diana Ryan
310-351-9333
joyfulorganizer@aol.com

Toni Scharff
310-450-2633
toni_scharff@earthlink.net

Lenora Thomas
323-449-1807
lthomas@dslextreme.com

Robin Valdez
818-886-9635
expert_organizers@msn.com

Kathy
Weninger
818-468-6778
kweninger@earthlink.net

Fay Wolf
323-924-7134
fay@neworderorganizing.com

A professional organizer enhances the lives of
clients by designing systems and processes using organizing principles
and
through transferring organizing skills. A professional organizer also
educates the public on organizing
solutions and the resulting benefits.From the National Association of Professional Organizers

May
14 marked the last day of the current
term of the NAPO-LA Board of Directors. It
has been my honor to serve as your President
this past year.

A sincere thank you to the following members
of the 2007-08 NAPO-LA Board. Their
tireless efforts have contributed to the
Los Angeles chapter being at the forefront of
the organizing industry.

Chris McKenry, Immediate
Past-President

Jodie Watson,
Vice-President

Josef Csongei,
Treasurer

Claire Flannery,
Secretary

Toni Scharff, Director of
Administration

Susan Culligan, Director of
Communications and Technology

Chantale
Bordonaro, Director of Membership

Dolores
Kaytes, Director of Professional
Development

I credit
these fine
professionals and their committees for their
innovation and risk-taking, which recently
resulted in the Los Angeles chapter
receiving the "President's Award" at the National
Conference in Reno last month.

I am proud of each Board member's
accomplishments in the fields of communications and technology,
finance, administration and education, as well as numerous
member services and special events. Their
leadership in our organization has proven
that new blood, creativity and a commitment
to the organizing industry continue to make
NAPO-LA prosper and showcase professional
organizing to Los Angeles, the nation, and
now, the world.

On May 15, the new term began and I am
pleased to report that many Board members have returned
for a
second or third term (and in
some cases, even more). Please join me in
appreciation for all outgoing and incoming
Board members as we celebrate our
accomplishments and tackle new challenges.

Change
in Editor

Editor
Steps Down

Claire Flannery, Simplify
Professional Organizing, has resigned as
Editor of The Los Angeles Organizer.

Editor
for more than three years, Claire has
done a fantastic job building NAPO-LA's electronic
newsletter into one admired by our entire industry.
Barry Izsak, former President of NAPO National, praised
the Los Angeles chapter's newsletter as "one of the most comprehensive,
well-organized and informative chapter newsletters."

NAPO-LA
thanks Claire for her outstanding work incorporating new features,
adding more
color and photos, and making the newsletter better
than it ever was before.

Welcome
to Jennifer Birner, Editor, and Beth Zeigler, Assistant Editor, who
along with current Publisher Fay Wolf, will take The Los Angeles
Organizer to the next
level!

NAPO-LA
Photos from Reno

A Great Time
Was Had
by All!

Photo Captions

Top
Center:
NAPO-LA Group Photo Top Left:
Jodie Watson, John Trosko and Chris McKenry show off their "Shining
Star" awardsTop Right:
Toni Scharff and Barb Schmit in Esselte booth at ExpoCenter:
John Trosko, Ann Gambrell and Chris McKenry share a laughBottom Left:
Christie Gelsomino and Robin Davi belt their stuff at karokeBottom Right:
Bev Clower and ? (who is that person with the napkin over her head
avoiding NAPO-LA's ace photographer?)

All photos by Sara Getzkin

A
First-Timer's Conference Experience

Reno
or Bust!

By
Beth ZeiglerBneato

John
Ascuaga's Nugget. I left Reno never
learning how to pronounce the hotel name but
I learned a lot that I can tell you about.

I didn't know what to expect. Honestly. All I
knew is that I had to go. That was the
mantra of my NAPO-LA President, John Trosko.
Anytime I saw someone from my chapter in the
months leading up to April, I was asked "Are
you going? Do you have a roommate? And did I
mention, are you going?" All of my
non-organizing friends were like, "You're
going to Reno?!!"

All joking aside, I was skeptical of Reno and
the Nugget, but I always had faith that this
was going to be an investment in my business
- and I was not let down. Outlined below,
I've included advice, things that blew me
away and things I've incorporated into my own
business since Conference.

Advice from past attendees:

Sit by people you don't know at meal
times to connect with other
organizers

Listen, listen,
listen

Divide up classes among roommates
and compare notes afterward

Always
double-down when the dealer has six or lower
showing and I have a total of 10 or
11

Talk to the session presenters afterwards
-
they are excited and more than happy to share
information (that is how they
learned)

Utilize the message board for
special meetings and to re-connect

Wow!

Standolyn Robertson's Introduction of
Peter Walsh

Peter Walsh

Blogger's
meeting (thank you,
John)

NAPO-in-the-Schools meeting (thank
you, Deborah)

The Program Book (not only
did I get the presentations of the sessions I
attended - but I also have all the other
sessions as well)

Currently in the process of applying
for a business loan in order to grow my
business. At Conference, I was drawn to other
organizers who are growing their businesses
in the direction of having teams and/or
partners. The bigger the better is where I'm
headed.

Hiring
consultants (paying experts
to help me out so I don't spend hours of my
time trying to figure it out for myself).
Huge lesson here because I'm a huge fan of
DIY (do it yourself).

Connecting with
organizers in my area to accomplish "big
pictures" ideas. My conference roommates and
I are starting local organizing workshops.

Conference
was just the thing my business
needed and my clients are already benefiting
from my experience! On to Orlando next year!

Golden
Circle Update

Spring
Fling

by
Ann GambrellCreative-Time Plus
and Golden Circle Liaison

The
Los Angeles area Golden Circle members
met in early April at the home of Barbara
Ricketts, with Glorya Schklair serving as
co-hostess.

Included in the array of topics was the
upcoming NAPO conference in Reno. Everyone
was looking forward to attending the Golden
Circle breakfast and the private Golden Circle Q&A session
with TV star, Peter Walsh.

We welcomed Claire Flannery to our midst
and announced Cindy Kamm and Tamara Zook as
new GC members also. It is always a special
occasion to have new members join the group.
Claire was so excited to "finally become a Golden Circle member" and
quickly volunteered to write the
GC column for the chapter newsletter. Topic: Her perspective of the
Reno conference from
the eyes of a new GC member.

Golden Circle members are compiling a Resource Directory of services to
use with
and recommend to clients. Toni Scharff will
head up this project and will collect
resources from members via email at toni_scharff@
earthlink.net.
This is another method of uniting our members
to bring the latest information to clients.

The 2008 chapter Golden Circle panel was
discussed and several eagerly volunteered to
participate and share their knowledge and
experiences at an upcoming chapter meeting
program. Date to be determined.

Mark your calendars for the next Golden
Circle meeting on Saturday, July 19, hosted
by Beverly Clower and Donna McMillan.

By
Chantale Bordonaro Simplicity Source
and NAPO-LA Director of Membership

The
NAPO-LA membership survey has concluded
and the anonymous results are currently being
reviewed. The bi-annual survey is a
continuing effort to ensure that chapter
meetings, events, educational opportunities
and community participation will closely
reflect the majority of chapter interests
while broadening our agenda and enlisting
greater membership involvement.

55% of membership responded to the
survey

Toni Scharff of
Simplicity Project
in Santa Monica was the lucky winner of the
Dymo LabelWriter Duo. Her name was randomly
drawn at the April chapter meeting from a
pool of all survey respondents.

The
majority of respondents overwhelmingly agreed
that they personally feel welcome at the
meetings. They also appreciate that our
NAPO-LA activities are on an excellent track,
which contributes to their successful
organizing businesses.

A
task force has
been formed to review survey
responses, bring suggestions to the Board to
enhance operations, and publish survey
results on the website. Again, your input
will assist your newly elected NAPO-Los Angeles Board of Directors to
prioritize and address today's
concerns.
The Board appreciates the time respondents
gave to voice their concerns and provide
feedback.

Organized
Karma

Karma
Quickies

By
Sara Getzkin,Hands On! Organizing Services

Did you know...?

Impress your clients, family and friends with
these green facts.

In California, it is now ILLEGAL to
throw away old household batteries and
fluorescent light bulbs. These items, known
as Universal Waste, include electronic
toys,
anything containing Mercury (thermometers,
thermostats), TVs and computers, telephones
and cell phones, and any product containing
electronic parts.

An estimated 600-800 million personal
computers are sitting unused in the U.S. and
that's a lot of clutter! Dell, Apple, and
Hewlett-Packard run their own recycling
programs, which allow customers to send
outdated equipment back. Check your
manufacturer's website for further
details.

Office Depot offers Tech
Recycling. Buy a
tech-recycling box at any Office Depot (cost
is minimal), fill it with monitors, CPUs,
printers, etc., and return it UNSEALED to any
Office Depot. They do the rest. Go to
www.
officedepot.com/techrecycling
for full
details.

IKEA has many recycling programs. Next
time you shop, bring in your used light bulbs
and batteries! Recycling bins are located in
the "Returns & Exchanges" area near the
exit.

Many Whole Foods Markets have recycling
bins for cell phones and ink jet
cartridges
and always have recycling bins for glass and
plastic in their dining areas.

20% of the electricity consumed in the
U.S. is for lighting. Replace just one
regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent
bulb and 150 pounds of carbon dioxide is kept
out of our air each year - plus they use 75%
less energy and last up to 10 times longer
than incandescent bulbs.

You can't donate sneakers with holes in
them but you can recycle them with Nike's
Reuse-a-Shoe program. Nike turns old athletic
shoes into new sport surfaces (basketball
courts, football fields). So far, Nike has
recycled over 20 million pairs of shoes, and
you can donate any brand. To learn more, go
to www.let
meplay.com/reuseashoe.

Energy Star appliances can
lower your
electric bill and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. With an Energy Star Washing
Machine, you could save about 7,000 gallons
of water per year! Go to www.energystar.gov
for more info.

Replace your old washing machine with a
new, high-efficiency model and you may be
eligible to receive a $250 rebate from the
LA-DWP. These models can save 20-30 gallons
of water per load. Go to
www.ladwp.com/
washer
before you purchase a
new machine. If LA-DWP does not provide your
service, check with who does for any rebates
available in your area.

When it comes to recycling plastic
in
residential Big Blue Bins, items with the
numbers 1 - 7 are acceptable. This includes
grocery bags, clean Styrofoam, dry cleaning
bags and plastic hangers.

Whole Foods Market has eliminated plastic
grocery bags in all stores and estimates that
100 million plastic bags will be kept off our
planet. This can prevent over 136 pounds of
CO2 emissions per year, which is equal to
permanently removing 13,451 cars from the
road. It can take 1,000 years for a plastic
bag to breakdown in a landfill.

Recycling
takes very little effort. Just do it. You'll be glad you did.

NOTE:
"Organized Karma" is an occasional series
by our recycling guru, Sara Getzkin.

Golden
Circle Column

My "Gold Circle" Ribbon

By Claire FlannerySimplify
A Golden Circle Member and
NAPO-LA's
Editor-at-Large

Couldn't
wait to get to Reno and my first
national Conference as a bona fide Golden
Circle member. I was most excited about
learning the secret Golden Circle handshake
and only slightly disappointed to learn that
there wasn't one!

Checking in, I mentioned to the hotel clerk
how happy I was to be in Reno. Then she burst
my bubble by saying that I was actually in
Sparks, Nevada! "Don't worry," she said,
leaning forward confidentially, "people say
that when you're in Reno you're so close to
Hell you can see Sparks!"

And then there was a teeny tiny glitch at
NAPO Registration - instead of a yellow
"Golden Circle" ribbon to attach to my badge,
the ribbon read "Gold Circle." Such a simple
faux pas but for my first Conference as
Golden Circle, were they trying to tell me
something?

Reno was my third national Conference. I
thought there might be an advantage to being
Golden Circle at Conference, but except for a
GC-only networking breakfast and a special GC
Q&A with Peter Walsh, things were pretty much
status quo. I do have to admit that when
talking to other organizers at Conference my
yellow ribbon made me feel proud and
confirmed to me that as a five-year NAPO
veteran, I have a lot to share.

At Conference, I agonized over some of the
break-out sessions because I couldn't be in
two places at one time. I stopped at every
single product booth in the Expo Hall to
check out all the new stuff. I just HAD to
have one of those clear shoe boxes from Neat
Containers to take back home and show
clients. And like lots of us, I did have some
trouble fitting all my acquired goodies into
my suitcase for the return trip. Truth be
told I brought home TWO shoe boxes -
different sizes - and there they sit in my
garage looking at me every day and waiting to
find out their fate. Client, trash bin, other?

So what did I learn in Reno? I learned that I
am prouder than ever of our trend-setting Los
Angeles chapter. When NAPO President
Standolyn Robertson teared up as she was
presenting the "President's Award," I was
sitting there wondering who she could
possibly be talking about. And to find out it
was NAPO-LA, what a "WOWie" moment for me,
for us, for our chapter.

Yes, I also learned that free coffee in the
hospitality suite is better than not-free
coffee in the long Starbucks line. I learned
that the talent show was a complete hoot,
that Tom Nevermann has a thing for Ann
Gambrell's hair, that the Friday night
Greek-dinner-turned-Japanese is quite a
production. I learned that it is never too
late to learn something new, try something
new, do something new.

I also learned that I am really, truly
grateful for finding this profession five
years ago and for finding NAPO and NAPO-LA.
And I like the fact that our chapter is
setting the bar ever higher for other
chapters to follow. Seeing Jodie Watson, John
Trosko and Chris McKenry all share in the
"Shining Star" award was the icing on the
cake. And being able to wear a "Gold Circle"
ribbon at conference was, for me, the cherry
on top!

NOTE:
This column is an on-going
series of articles by Golden Circle members. It is just
one of the many ways veteran members give back to NAPO-LA.

When did you start your business?
Sometime in 2002 but things got rolling in 2003

Where do you do business?
Mostly Los Angeles, but also in the San Fernando and
San Gabriel Valleys as well as Orange County, Ventura County, San
Francisco,
and New York City

How did you get into organizing as a
profession?
According to my mother, I was always a neat
and tidy child. After college, I worked in
the entertainment industry as a casting
director. I quickly learned that the most
organized people were the most successful. I
was organizing before I knew it was my true
profession. When I no longer wanted to be part of making movies, I
looked for a new
career. Using the internet, I found that I
could be paid for what came naturally and
work for myself.

How did you come to join NAPO and/or
NAPO-LA?
I found NAPO during my preliminary web
research and called the NAPO-LA phone number.
Robin Davi, then Director of Membership, was kind
enough to answer a few questions. Even
though I didn't know anyone in NAPO or
NAPO-LA, I decided to invest in a one-year
membership and see how it went. I'm so glad I
did it!

What has been your experience volunteering
in NAPO-LA and what do you see as the benefits of volunteering?
The first time I volunteered for the chapter
was to help Julie Morgenstern a few years ago at our one-day
conference. It was pretty cool to meet her
and get to know the most active members of
NAPO-LA. To date, I have volunteered for two
NAPO-LA conferences, two GO-month activities,
all three Organizing Awards, and I was also
the Monthly Meeting Assistant for quite
awhile. Volunteering raises your visibility.
Run around enough with your nametag on and
people get to know your name! Gradually,
other organizers wanted me to assist them
and/or co-organize. I am currently the
NAPO-LA Photographer and I love it.

What are your main organizing interests or
specialties?
I like to call my
specialty "managing the aftermath of
hoarders." I work with relatives who have
been left to deal with houses full of clutter
after a loved one has died. Recycling is a
big part of my business. My clients are
relieved to know that I will help them
recycle and repurpose their things.

Anything else we should know about you?
I love to cook. I design beaded jewelry. I'm a classically trained
singer. I dream of
traveling around the world. I need chocolate
in my diet. I never stop learning from
others. I know I've done a good job when a
client thanks me at the end of a session and
gives me a hug.

April
2008 Volunteer of the Month

Q&
A with Abbey Keusch, a Volunteer Here to Stay

What is your business name?abbey claire organizing

When did you start your business?
2006

Where do you do business?
Hollywood/Los Angeles

How did you get into organizing as a
profession?
I was always organized and often helped
friends and family. Then I discovered NAPO
and everything changed. I decided to quit my
teaching job and start my own organizing
business, which I'm taking full-time in
September.

How did you come to join NAPO and/or
NAPO-LA?
I went to a NAPO-LA chapter meeting, talked
to some organizers, bought some books on
becoming an organizer, and subsequently
joined both NAPO and NAPO-LA.

What has been your experience volunteering
in NAPO-LA and what do you see as the
benefits of volunteering?
The benefits have been many - to work with
people who are so dedicated to NAPO, to their
businesses, and to seeing their colleagues
succeed. All this has inspired me to become more
involved and to stay involved. I love being
part of the NAPO-LA family. I have learned a
lot - not only about organizing but also
about myself, that I can be a successful
business owner!

What are your main organizing interests,
areas of organizing?
My main interest is residential organizing,
and I recently joined the NSGCD and have
started working with CD clients.

Anything else you'd like us to know about
you?
Hmmm...I'm a Taurus and I LOVE chocolate.

Note:
Have you volunteered yet to help
out NAPO-LA in some way? Then you, too, could be voted "Volunteer of
the Month" or even
"Volunteer of the Year." And when you are, it will be your turn
to share your story, so that all of us in NAPO-LA will
get to know you just a little bit better.

Set
up a "To Shred" file or area to allow
clients to tuck shredding away for a more
convenient time, which will allow them to
process their mail with fewer distractions.

Submitted by Jane ReiferClutter Control Organizing Services

Great Gift for Clients

Return-address
stickers are a welcome gift
for clients after a move to a new home. Go a step further by choosing
special
designs for each child. Neiman Marcus
Catalog has attractive stampers, too, in
designer colors.

Submitted by Beverly
ClowerOffice Overhaul

About
the TIPS Program:
NAPO-LA's TIPS Program is managed by the chapter's Golden Circle
members. Ann Gambrell is the chair and invites all chapter members to
submit their
organizing tips via email or on index cards that will be available at
the monthly chapter meetings for deposit into the "Organizing Tips" box.

TIPS
are requested in two categories:

"Tips from Pros" are organizing tips for
clients/the public.

"Tips of the Trade" are tips for
organizers to use in their businesses.

When
submitting TIPS, you are invited
(optional) to include your name, business name and contact information.
This will serve to promote you
when the client/public TIPS are posted on the NAPO-LA website's home
page.

By Deborah Kawashima,
creativeOrganizer
and NAPO in the Schools Committee Chair

NAPO in the Schools had a great
showing at Conference in Reno!

Fellow NAPO members were spotted from all
over the U.S., even one member from Canada,
wearing a NAPO in the Schools ribbon
on their badges.

There are currently 250 Trained Providers
(and counting) for the elementary program.
Interest has also been shown from the NAPO
international communities in Australia, New
Zealand, Canada and South Africa.

At the Committee meeting, members shared
experiences and gave feedback about the
program thus far. Task force members Monica
Gerda and Jamie Dastou from NAPO-GA
introduced the newly developed Middle School
Program which is expected to be launched this
fall. Lynn Owen from NAPO-CO talked about
the production of kits for elementary
materials, which will soon be available for
purchase by chapters and members.

Congratulations to the following NAPO-LA
members who took the training in March and
are now NAPO in the Schools Trained
Providers for elementary schools: Wendy
Cross, Pasadena, CA; and Jodie Watson,
Sherman Oaks,
CA. (Each grade level requires its own
training, when available.)

Training is required of all NAPO members
wanting to become NAPO in the Schools
Trained Providers and is available to you as
a benefit of your NAPO membership. Sign-up
for the national training calls is posted on
the NAPO in the Schools web pages,
located in the "Members Only" section of the
NAPO website. The last scheduled elementary
training call for this school year was on
April 29. Going forward, we hope to make the elementary
training calls available as a download MP3
on-line. An announcement will be made when
this option is available.

NOTE:
NAPO in the Schools is a community
outreach program. It brings professional organizers
into the classroom for an interactive presentation with students. We
hope that by planting these organizing-can-be-fun seeds in student
minds,
they will realize being organized really does make a difference.

Robin
Davi of Simply
Arranged was the guest speaker at the
March meeting of the Hearing Loss Association
of Los Angeles. Robin's subject was organizing
and spring cleaning, a timely topic for the
group which was gearing up for their annual
garage sale fundraiser. "Speaking to an
audience of hearing impaired individuals was
amazing," said Robin. "All of the spoken
words were translated onto a large screen so
everyone could read and understand the speaker."

Donna
McMillan of McMillan and Company Professional Organizing
and Karen Simon of PC Tech Associates were the
featured contributors in
the April
issue of The Honolulu Advertiser's
"Homescape Magazine" in an article
entitled, "Filing
Your Life - Essential tips to
reorganize and declutter your files". The
collaboration of their expertise through
Island Organizers [www.islandor
ganizers.com]
spotlights their professional organizing and
computer consulting services. Both Donna and Karen
are Past Presidents of NAPO-LA and
Karen is the
current President of Hawaii Association of
Professional Organizers Inc (HAPO, Inc).

In
April, our own Director of Membership,
Chantale Bordonaro, CPOŽ, owner of
Simplicity Source, had the
pleasure of
attending the monthly meeting of the Montreal
chapter of
POC-Professional Organizers in Canada. The
topic of the meeting was "Going Green"
-
about the Montreal city resources for support
of recycling.

New
NAPO-LA Members & Associate Members

A Warm Welcome
to NAPO-LA's
Newest Members

Beth FlaridaGet it Together
Anaheim Hills
Re-Joined 2008

Camera
Shy!

Elana
Mandel
Los Angeles

Loring Smith
Sherman Oaks

Susan Marshall
Rancho Palos Verdes

Lattrice Willams
Long Beach

Lori Kleiman
Calabasas

Michelle Monet Farrar
Hawthorne

New
Associate Members

SmartBox
(Peter Given, member, and brother Brian)
San Fernando

Konkord Assembly (Heather Ross)
Torrance

NOTE:
"Warm Welcome" is a regular feature of The
Los Angeles Organizer. If you
recently joined NAPO-LA, be sure to send your photo to
the Editor, along with your name, your business
name, where you live, and the date you joined to editor@napola.org

EDC
Training Workshop May 31

Attract New Clients Using the Power of
Your Words

Words that
Sell: Killer Copy to
Transform Your Marketing

Presented by the
Educational
Development Committee
and Michelle Quintana,
Bulldog
Creative Copywriting

Saturday, May 31, 2008, check-in at 9:30
am

Are
you doing the same old things in
marketing and getting the same results? Isn't
is time to begin marketing "outside the
box"?

Marketing isn't about simply putting some
information about your company on your
website, brochures, flyers, or direct
marketing pieces and expecting terrific
results. Marketing yourself effectively is
about knowing how to "speak" to your target
clients in a way that makes them WANT to pick
up the phone and call you -- NOW!

This three-hour workshop will cover the
fundamentals of writing compelling copy that
will help you approach your marketing
materials from your target market's
perspective.

We will discuss the psychological triggers of
marketing and how to get potential prospects
to say "yes" to your services.

We will perform a "marketing copy
check-up" -- do your current marketing
materials pass? (Bring printouts of your home
page or any current marketing materials
you're using.)

Here are just some of the proven skills that
will transform your marketing copy:

The 12-letter word that
guarantees
your success and how it's NOT used to your
benefit.

How and why the power of the written word
works, and how even just one word can
be the difference between a successful
marketing message and one that fails.

How eight savvy "outside the box"
techniques, when applied to your website
(with an open mind), will explain why 90% of
all service businesses ignore them.

The four simple proven strategies
that can help your business break through the
dead zone.

How to write fabulous subject
lines that get your email opened and read
EVERY time.

The ten steps to surefire online
marketing success that will help you forget
your competition exists!

How the Magic of False Logic, when
explored, will help to explain why you may be
losing 75% or more of your potential clients.

How to reach your potential clients like
never before using the BFD formula.
What is BFD? Attend this training session to
find out.Hint: If you're not using
BFD in your
copy, you might as well go out of business!

BONUS!
As a thank-you for signing up
for this copywriting interactive, I will
email you a free report entitled, "99 Easy
Ways to Boost Your Direct Mail Response,"
written by seven-figure copywriter Dean
Riech. These tips will help you with ALL of
your copywriting efforts and any direct mail
pieces you plan on sending in the future.

So
why am I calling this an interactive training session?

I
want everyone attending this seminar to
bring sample pages from their website and
other marketing materials. After learning
these copywriting techniques, you will
critique each others' "problem
pages" and immediately apply what you've
learned. Are you up for the challenge?

Michelle
Quintana of
BulldogCreativeCopywriting.com
spent 11
years as a NAPO member and full-time
organizer. She has now traded the clutter for
the keyboard. Michelle decided to take what
she learned building a six-figure organizing business and turn that
passion into a
full-time career as a professional freelance
copywriter.

Are
you ready to create a successful organizing business? Do you want to
learn how to:

apply proven business techniques and
practices?

find your niche and the clients who need
you?

avoid the frustration and stress of
common mistakes?

become an expert in this rapidly growing
industry?

The
Educational Development Committee (formerly the Mentoring, Education
and Training Committee) provides a Directory of NAPO-LA organizing
consultants available to provide guidance,
advice and support to potential, new and
existing professional organizers. Contact
consultants directly for information and fees. Click on
the link below to be connected to the Directory.